Weak Grip
A weak grip is a way of holding the golf club in which both hands are rotated toward the target, away from the trail side of the body. For a right-handed golfer, this means the hands sit turned counterclockwise on the handle, which leaves the clubface prone to staying open at impact.
What is a weak grip?
The word “weak” describes where the hands sit on the club, not how tightly they squeeze it. In a weak grip, both hands are rotated toward the target, so a right-handed golfer’s hands turn to the left on the handle. Look down at address, and the lead hand (the left hand for a right-hander) shows only one knuckle, sometimes none at all.
That position matters because the hands are the only contact point between the golfer and the club, so where they sit largely decides where the clubface points at impact. A weak grip predisposes the face to stay open, meaning it points right of the target for a right-hander when club meets ball.
Grip position sits on a spectrum. Turn the hands well to the right, and the grip becomes strong; keep them roughly centred, and it is neutral; rotate them left, and it is weak. None of the three is automatically correct. A weak grip is simply one end of that range, and it changes how easily the wrists and forearms can rotate the face back to square through the hitting zone.
How to spot a weak grip
The clearest check is the lead hand at address. According to PGA professional Ben Emerson, writing for Golf Monthly, a weak grip shows only one knuckle or fewer on the lead hand, while the trail hand often reveals three or four. Most instructors point to two visible knuckles on the lead hand as the neutral baseline.
The other checkpoint is the “V” shape formed between the thumb and index finger of each hand. On a weak grip, those Vs point toward the chin or the lead shoulder rather than the trail shoulder. Caddie AI adds a further sign: the trail hand tends to sit too far on top of the grip rather than to its side.
Together, these signs describe hands rotated too far toward the target. A golfer can carry a weak grip for years without noticing, because it often feels natural and secure standing over the ball.
Why is it called a weak grip?
The naming confuses almost everyone new to the term. A weak grip has nothing to do with a light or gentle hold. HackMotion explains that “strong” and “weak” describe hand rotation on the club, not grip pressure.
Pressure is a separate variable. A golfer can hold a weak grip with a fierce, tense clench or a soft, relaxed one, and the position stays weak either way. The label points only to how far the hands are turned. Keeping the two ideas apart is the first step to understanding the term.
How a weak grip affects ball flight
Because the hands are turned toward the target, a weak grip resists closing the clubface through impact. The face tends to arrive open, and an open face is the main reason a golf ball curves. For a right-handed player, the ball usually starts left of target and bends right, which is a fade at its mildest and a slice at its worst.
Ball flight also tends to climb. Bruce Bolt notes that the open face adds loft at impact, so weak grips often produce a higher, softer flight that carries less distance and runs less on landing. That trade can help around the greens, where an open face preserves loft for high, soft chips.
The catch is timing. A weak grip leaves the face slower to square, so consistent contact asks for more precise hand action through the ball. For golfers with a naturally out-to-in swing path, which describes most recreational players, that open face is what turns a swing into a slice.
Weak vs. neutral vs. strong grip
Most golfers meet the term “weak grip” while trying to place it against the other two grip types. The three sit on a single scale defined by hand rotation, and each nudges the clubface a different way.
| Grip type | Knuckles on lead hand | “V” points toward | Clubface tendency | Typical ball flight (right-hander) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weak | One or none | Chin / lead shoulder | Stays open | Fade or slice, higher flight |
| Neutral | About two | Trail shoulder | Returns square | Straight or slight curve |
| Strong | Three or more | Behind trail shoulder | Closes early | Draw or, if overdone, hook |
Many teaching professionals start players at neutral because it returns the face to square with the least manipulation, then let each golfer lean weaker or stronger to suit a natural shot shape. Neutral is a starting point. It is the diagnostic middle, not a rule everyone has to follow.
Is a weak grip bad?
For the average amateur who already fights a slice, weakening the grip usually makes the miss worse, since it opens the face further. That is why so much instruction treats a weak grip as a fault to correct.
Plenty of skilled players use one on purpose, though. Collin Morikawa plays a distinctly weak left-hand grip and is regarded as one of the game’s finest iron players; a bunkered.co.uk coaching analysis describes his lead thumb sitting far down the shaft. Jon Rahm also plays a weak grip, compensating with a bowed lead wrist that squares the face, as WhyGolf points out. Historically, Ben Hogan weakened his grip to tame a hook early in his career, a change Bruce Bolt credits with helping build his controlled fade.
A weak grip is a tool rather than a mistake. In the right hands, backed by a repeatable swing, it gives control and a dependable left-to-right shot. In the hands of a slicer, it tends to feed the problem.
Related Golf Terms
- Two-plane swing — A swing with a steeper shoulder plane and flatter arm plane.
- Strong grip — A grip rotated away from the target, often used to fight a slice.
- One-plane swing — A swing where the arms and shoulders move on a single inclined plane.
- Hinge and hold — A short-game method that sets the wrists and keeps them firm.
- Neutral grip — A balanced hand placement that promotes a square clubface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a weak grip cause a slice?
It can. A weak grip encourages an open clubface at impact, and an open face combined with an out-to-in swing path, common among recreational golfers, produces the left-to-right curve of a slice.
Is a weak grip the same as a light grip?
No. Weak refers to hand rotation on the club, with the hands turned toward the target. A light grip refers to soft pressure. The two are unrelated.
Do any professionals use a weak grip?
Yes. Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm both play weak grips, and Ben Hogan famously weakened his to control a hook.
How many knuckles should I see with a weak grip?
Looking down at address, a weak grip typically shows one knuckle or none on the lead hand, compared with about two for a neutral grip.
Sources
- Emerson, Ben. “Weak Golf Grip: What Is It And How To Fix It.” Golf Monthly. Accessed July 2026.
https://www.golfmonthly.com/tips/weak-golf-grip-what-is-it-and-how-to-fix-it - “Strong vs Weak Golf Grip: How Each Affects Ball Flight.” Bruce Bolt. Accessed July 2026.
https://brucebolt.us/blogs/news/strong-vs-weak-golf-grip - “What Is a Weak Golf Grip?” Caddie AI. Accessed July 2026.
https://www.caddiehq.com/resources/what-is-a-weak-golf-grip - “Strong vs Weak Grip in Golf.” HackMotion. Accessed July 2026.
https://hackmotion.com/strong-vs-weak-grip-in-golf/ - “What you can learn from Collin Morikawa’s grip.” bunkered.co.uk. Accessed July 2026.
https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/what-you-can-learn-from-collin-morikawas-imperfect-grip/ - “Strong Grip vs Weak Grip in Golf.” WhyGolf. Accessed July 2026.
https://whygolf.com/blogs/whysguyscorner/strong-vs-weak-grip-in-golf
